Nassau County bill aims at boycott-Israel movement

Nassau County Democratic Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams, center, and members of the Nassau County Democratic Legislative Caucus, announce the filing of the Financial Disclosure Enhancement Bill on Monday, May 9, 2016 in Mineola. Photo Credit: Howard Schnapp

Nassau County Democratic Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams, center, and members of the Nassau County Democratic Legislative Caucus, announce the filing of the Financial Disclosure Enhancement Bill on Monday, May 9, 2016 in Mineola. (Credit: Howard Schnapp)

Nassau lawmakers want to deny county contracts to companies participating in a political movement to boycott Israeli goods and services.

The County Legislature’s Rules Committee on Monday unanimously approved a bill that would disqualify bidders for county work if they’ve boycotted or divested from Israeli businesses or supported sanctions against Israel — known as the “BDS movement.”

HIGHLIGHTS

Nassau lawmakers want to deny county contracts to companies participating in a political movement to boycott Israeli goods and services.

The County Legislature’s Rules Committee on Monday unanimously approved a bill that would disqualify bidders for county work if they’ve boycotted or divested from Israeli businesses or supported sanctions against Israel — known as the “BDS movement.”

Nassau’s bill calls BDS “a damaging, discriminatory policy,” and says it “may prevent the procurement of goods or services of the best quality and at the most competitive prices.”

Companies seeking county work that have participated in BDS activities would be deemed “nonresponsive” bidders. Participation is defined as “any action politically motivated and intended to penalize or otherwise limit commercial relations with Israeli owned or controlled businesses.”

Authors of the county bill said it does not violate civil liberties or trade laws.

County Executive Edward Mangano, a Republican, said in a statement: “We support the effort to ban companies with discriminatory practices from contracting with Nassau County.”